Facts at a Glance
John Everest | Mortgage Broker, Everest Mortgages, Brighton
21 years in financial services · CeMAP-qualified, whole-of-market mortgage adviser · FCA-regulated · 15+ personal property purchases · Helped investors build portfolios from £0 to £20 million · Featured in national media
Quick Answer
I’m not just a mortgage broker. I’ve spent 21 years in finance, bought more than 15 properties myself, renovated most of them, completed property developments and negotiated property purchases with estate agents across Brighton and Hove. I’ve also dealt with solicitors through my own property transactions and helped investors build property portfolios from £0 to £20 million.
That experience means I can look at more than just the mortgage rate. I understand the wider property process because I’ve been through much of it myself.
I’m Not Just a Mortgage Broker
I’ve been in finance for 21 years.
That’s literally half my life!
Over those years, my career has taken me through finance, mortgages and property, but I’ve also learned a huge amount from being a property owner and investor myself.
I’ve bought more than 15 properties, renovated most of them and completed property developments. I’ve negotiated purchases with estate agents, dealt with solicitors, and worked with investors building substantial property portfolios.
Some of those experiences have been straightforward. Others have definitely taught me a few lessons along the way.
That matters because a mortgage is rarely just about the mortgage.
Whether you’re buying your first home in Brighton and Hove, moving house, remortgaging or looking at property investment, there are usually plenty of decisions happening around finance.
So, what does all of that experience actually mean when you come to me for a mortgage?
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1. 21 Years of Mortgage and Finance Experience
I’ve been working in finance for 21 years, so I’ve seen a lot of different financial situations.
One thing that experience has taught me is that no two clients are the same.
Two people can have similar incomes but completely different circumstances. One might have a straightforward application, while another could be self-employed, have existing commitments, or be looking at a more complicated property.
That’s why I don’t believe mortgage advice should simply be about finding the lowest rate. The rate is important, but I also want to understand your income, deposit, commitments, property and plans. After more than two decades in finance, I’ve learned to look at the bigger picture rather than treating every mortgage application the same way.
That is part of what you should expect from an experienced mortgage broker.
2. 15+ Property Purchases: Buying, Renovating and Learning
I’ve bought more than 15 properties myself, and over the last 10–15 years, I’ve personally refurbished and developed over 10 of them, including converting properties into student HMOs.
I’ve also completed larger renovation projects, including taking a two-bedroom property and transforming it into a five-bedroom home by significantly increasing the overall footprint through extensions and a loft conversion.
I’ve been very hands-on throughout these projects, dealing directly with contractors, individual trades and suppliers. I’ve also spent a lot of time shopping around, negotiating costs and sourcing materials to make sure projects stay as cost-effective as possible.
The work I’ve been involved with has included full refurbishments, extensions, loft conversions, complete bathroom renovations and bringing older properties up to a much more modern standard.
I must be mad!
This has given me broad practical knowledge of property development and refurbishment, as well as a strong network of contractors, tradespeople and suppliers. More importantly, it has taught me what is actually involved in taking a property from its starting point to where you want it to be.
Renovations rarely go exactly according to plan. There are always decisions to make, costs to manage and unexpected issues that can appear along the way. I’ve experienced those challenges myself, rather than simply advising clients about them from behind a desk.
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3. Beyond the Mortgage: Solicitors, Estate Agents and the Full Property Process
My experience with property has also taken me beyond the mortgage itself.
I’ve dealt with plenty of solicitors through my own property purchases. You learn a lot when you’ve been through the legal side of transactions yourself, including the importance of understanding what is happening and asking the right questions.
I’ve also negotiated property purchases with estate agents across Brighton and Hove.
Some have been good. Some have been, shall we say, not so good.
Those experiences have given me a practical understanding of what happens around a property purchase. I’m not replacing your solicitor or estate agent. They have their own roles and expertise.
What I bring is an understanding of how the different parts of the process fit together.
The mortgage is one part of the transaction. The property, the negotiation, the legal work, and your own financial plans all matter too.
4. Property Developments: What They Taught Me
I’ve learned a lot from working on property developments and renovation projects, but one of the biggest lessons is simple: know your numbers and keep a very close eye on the budget.
Costs can quickly creep up during a project. That’s why I always try to get clear quotes upfront and agree exactly what is being done before any work starts. I would never recommend letting trades begin work without first understanding and agreeing the likely cost.
I’ve also learned that you need to keep an eye on those costs throughout the project, not just at the beginning. Small changes or unexpected jobs can quickly add up, and it’s much easier to manage a project when you know where you stand financially.
Another important lesson is to always allow contingency for both money and time. Property projects rarely run exactly to plan. There will almost always be something unexpected that comes up or causes a delay, often completely outside your control.
A contractor may run into an issue, materials may take longer to arrive, or something you uncover during the work may need attention before you can move forward. You have to be prepared for those situations rather than assuming everything will happen exactly when you expect it to.
For me, the main lessons are simple: know your figures, agree costs upfront, keep control of the budget and always allow more time than you initially think you’ll need. Those are lessons I’ve learned from actually being hands-on with property projects myself, and they’re experiences I can draw on when looking at the wider property picture with my clients.
number of lenders, including…
5. Helping Investors Build £0–£20 Million Property Portfolios
I’ve helped investors build property portfolios from £0 to £20 million.
For me, the important part isn’t simply the £20 million figure. It’s understanding where an investor starts and how their financing decisions develop as their portfolio grows.
Someone buying their first investment property will have very different questions from someone who already owns several properties.
The conversation can move from:
“Can I get a mortgage?”
to:
“How does this mortgage fit into what I want to do next?”
That requires looking beyond one mortgage application.
My job is to understand the investor’s circumstances, plans and available mortgage options, then help them understand how the financing could fit into those plans.
6. Why I Don’t Just Look for “The Best Rate”
One of the questions I hear regularly is:
“What’s the best mortgage rate?”
It’s a fair question, but it’s not always where I start.
The lowest rate on paper isn’t automatically the right mortgage for every person. I want to understand your circumstances first. That includes your income, deposit, existing commitments, the property you’re buying, and what you want to do in the future.
Someone buying their first home in Brighton could have very different needs from someone remortgaging or building a property portfolio.
As an independent, whole-of-market mortgage broker, I can look at available options across different lenders and consider how they fit your circumstances and their lending criteria. After 21 years in finance, I’ve learned that mortgage advice is about more than the headline rate.
It needs to make sense for the person taking out the mortgage.
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7. When National Media Want My Opinion
My experience in finance and property has also led to opportunities to share my views with national media.
I’ve been featured or asked to provide commentary for publications including The Times, The Telegraph, BBC, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance, alongside other publications covering finance and property.
I’ve also contributed to conversations around the mortgage and property market, including first-time buyers, affordability and changing mortgage rates.
For example, I shared my thoughts on Santander’s 98% mortgage and what it could mean for first-time buyers in GB News.
I also spoke to PAD Magazine about why 2026 could be an important year for buyers, sharing my perspective on house prices, interest rates and changing lender criteria.
And, to mark Everest Mortgages reaching its 10th anniversary, Digital Journal covered the story, including how I built the business from the ground up and why remaining independent and whole-of-market has always been important to me.
For me, it’s another way of using the experience I’ve built up over more than two decades to make complicated financial topics easier to understand.
8. What My Clients Say
Of course, I can tell you about my experience.
My clients can tell you what it’s actually like to work with me.
I’ve helped first-time buyers, homeowners, remortgage clients and people dealing with more complicated circumstances. The feedback I value most is when someone tells me that I made something stressful feel easier.
One first-time buyer, Kyle McClorey, said I made what initially felt like a daunting process feel much easier.
Victoria said:
“He makes no question seem like a silly question and has made a stressful process as simple as it can be.”
Another client, Michael White, highlighted something particularly important to me:
“He’s independent and very experienced and gives honest advice, not a sales pitch.”
That is exactly how I want clients to feel when they deal with me.
Watch the video below to see more from the people I’ve helped.
- Totally impartial — we work for you, not the lender
- Whole-of-market access to thousands of deals
- Flexible appointments — evenings & weekends available
- We handle all the paperwork & lender negotiations
- FCA regulated — your advice is always protected
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When you put everything together, my experience covers more than arranging mortgages.
I’ve spent 21 years in finance. I’ve bought and renovated properties, completed developments, negotiated purchases, dealt with solicitors and estate agents, and helped investors build property portfolios. That gives me a broader perspective when I’m looking at a client’s circumstances.
If you’re buying your first home, you may need help understanding affordability and your mortgage options.
If you’re moving, there may be questions around your existing mortgage and your new property.
If you’re investing, you may be thinking about how today’s financing decision fits into your longer-term plans.
These are different situations, and I don’t think they should all be approached in the same way. My experience doesn’t mean I can predict every issue that will come up. It means I’ve personally been through many different sides of property, and I bring those lessons into the conversations I have with clients.
10. More Than Finding You a Mortgage
I’ve spent half my life working in finance.
Along the way, I’ve bought properties, renovated them, completed developments, negotiated purchases, dealt with solicitors and estate agents, and helped investors build property portfolios. That’s why I don’t see my role as simply finding you a mortgage rate.
For me, mortgage advice is about understanding where you are now, where you want to get to, and how the mortgage fits into the bigger picture.
You don’t need to know everything before you come to me. That’s what I’m here for.
If you’re not sure what you can afford, don’t understand how something works, or even think you won’t be able to get the mortgage you want, we can talk it through. Just because you’ve been told something isn’t possible doesn’t always mean there are no other options. I’ll look at your circumstances, explore what may be available, and help you find an option that fits.
I also want my clients to feel that they can come to me with questions without feeling like they should already know the answer. Whether it’s your first home, your next property, a remortgage, or an investment, I’d rather you ask than feel like you have to figure it all out yourself. I value the people I work with, not just the mortgage they’re taking out. My goal is to build a relationship where you know you have someone you can come back to when you need advice, not just someone who arranged your mortgage once.
Whether you’re buying your first home, moving, remortgaging or exploring property investment, Everest Mortgages can help you understand your options.
Book your free mortgage consultation and let’s talk through your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes an experienced mortgage broker different?
An experienced mortgage broker can bring a deeper understanding of different financial circumstances, lender criteria and the wider mortgage process. Personal property experience can also provide another perspective when discussing a purchase, remortgage or investment.
Why use a mortgage broker instead of going directly to a bank?
A mortgage broker can look at options from multiple lenders rather than being limited to one bank’s products. The options available will depend on your circumstances and each lender’s criteria.
What does a whole-of-market mortgage broker do?
A whole-of-market mortgage broker can assess mortgage products from a broad range of lenders and consider which options may fit your circumstances.
Can a mortgage broker help property investors?
Yes. A mortgage broker can help investors understand financing options and consider how borrowing may fit into their wider property plans. Requirements vary depending on the investor and lender.
Why does property experience matter when choosing a mortgage broker?
Personal property experience can provide an additional perspective on the buying process. Understanding mortgages alongside property purchases, renovations, developments, and negotiations can help a broker see the wider context around a financing decision.
